Read personal journeys: 2024

As Christmas approaches, I sit by the window of my cottage in a small Welsh village, looking out at the cold, grey sky.

I’m 50, living in Belfast, and for the past few weeks, I’ve had this fierce itch. My skin’s all red and dry, and no matter how much I scratch, it just gets worse.

I’m 43, and every day feels like a battle with my own body. Psoriasis has covered most of me for years, leaving my skin inflamed, dry, and cracked.

I’ve had psoriatic arthritis (PsA) for over 10 years. It makes my joints hurt, especially in my wrists, fingers, and knees. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but over time, the pain got worse. As a graphic designer, I spend a lot of time working at a desk, and I started to wonder if I could still do my job.

I’ve lived with scalp psoriasis for years, and while it’s never easy, I’ve learned to manage it. However, a recent experience at the hairdresser’s left me feeling humiliated. During my trim, the stylist stopped and said, “Wow, your scalp is a mess.”

I’ve lived with psoriasis for over 20 years. It started as a small patch on my scalp, but it quickly spread across my body, affecting my self-esteem as much as my skin. At first, I tried to hide it—long sleeves in summer, makeup on my face—but it only made me feel more self-conscious.

I’m JM, a 58-year-old from Scotland, and I’m stuck in a difficult situation. I’ve been living with psoriatic arthritis, a condition that causes constant pain and stiffness in my joints, making it impossible to continue working.

As a mother, there are moments when you feel powerless in the face of your child’s pain. For me, that moment came when my daughter, Mia, began facing bullying because of her psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that causes red, scaly patches.

So, I have only had psoriasis since I was in my early 30s but maybe I am just unlucky because the condition has covered my body head to toe.